Piston groove cleaner



June 15, 1965 w J BB 3,188,670

PISTON GROOVE CLEANER Filed Jan. 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 William .1 Babb 1NVENTOR."

BY M

W. J- BABB PISTON GROOVE CLEANER June 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1965 $1.- w Dr an mm mm Wm aw 9 w R United States Patent 3,188,670 PISTON GROOVE CLEANER William J. Babb, 419 S. Paul St., Pauls Valley, ()lda. Filed Jan. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 252,424 7 Claims. (Cl. -10401) This ivention relates to a novel an useful piston groove cleaner and more specifically to a tool which is designed to clean the grooves of a piston of an intern-a1 combustion engine in an improved manner in order that the functioning of a new ring seated in that groove will not be interfered with by carbon deposits and the like.

While most piston groove cleaners are constructed in a manner whereby they may be utilized to remove carbon deposits from piston grooves, they are for the most part provided with one or possibly two cutting elements which are mounted and shaped so as to be received in a piston groove at points spaced a considerable distance apart. While the cleaning elements of these piston groove cleaners are capable of removing carbon deposits, since they are so widely spaced apart each one acts as an individual cutting element and may therefore dig into the carbon deposits excessively and cause the cleaning tool to jam. In addition, these widely spaced cleaning elements also have a tendency to cut into the wall of the piston groove and to remove material therefrom as the cleaning operation of each groove is being completed. This, of course, will increase the depth of the groove and therefore lessen the effectiveness of an expander spring disposed behind a piston ring seated in that groove.

The piston groove cleaner of the instant invention includes a pair of jaw members with one of the jaw members including means defining an arcuate plate-like member whose concave edge portion opens toward the other jaw member and includes scraping elements adapted to be snugly received in a groove of a piston disposed between the two jaw members. The scraping elements on the plate-like member of the one jaw member comprise closely spaced saw-like teeth. In this manner, the closely spaced saw-like teeth define carbon cutting means not unlike that of a file and therefore no one or two of the saw-like teeth or cutting elements is able to dig into the carbon deposits excessively or to gauge the inner Wall of the piston groove as the cleaning operation being performed on that groove is being completed. Therefore, the piston groove cleaner of the instant invention is constructed in a manner whereby it may operate more smoothly and efiiciently with less efiort on the part of the person using the tool.

The main object of this invention is to provide a piston groove cleaner including an arcuate plate-like member having closely spaced scraping elements formed on its concave edge portion which are saw-teeth-like in nature and which are of a size and shape adapted to be snugly received in a piston groove.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a piston groove cleaner whose plate-like member includes opposite end portions which are free of the closely spaced sawlike teeth, whereby the opposite end portions of the concave edge portion of the plate-like member may be utilized as abutments for limiting penetration of the sawlike teeth into a piston groove being cleaned.

Still another object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a piston groove cleaner whose jaw members are formed on and adjacent one pair of corresponding ends of a pair of arm members with the one pair of ends of the arm members being pivotally secured together. In this manner, the other pair of corresponding ends of the arm members may be gripped by one hand in order to urge the jaw members "Ice together while the piston being cleaned is held in the. other hand.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide arcuate plate-like members for each of the jaw members and arcuate plate-like members which may be readily removed and replaced by plate-like members whose arcuate concave edges are formed by different radii. In this manner, the piston groove cleaner of the instant invention may be readily adapted to handle pistons of various sizes;

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a piston groove cleaner in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompany-ing drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like par-ts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the piston groove cleaner of the instant invention showing the manner in which it may be secured in engagement with a piston whose piston grooves are to be cleaned;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the center portion of FIGURE 1 and showing the arm members of the tool in different positions relative to each other;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIGURE 1; 7

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one of the platel-ike adapters carried by one jaw member;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the other of the plate-like members which is supported from the other jalw member;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which the free ends of the arm members may be moved into overlapping engagement with each other; and

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the pivotal connection between the two arm members of the tool.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a piston including cylindrical side walls 12 in which piston grooves 14, 16 and 18 are form-ed. As can best be seen from FIGURES 2 and 4 of the drawings, the piston grooves 14 and -.16 have carbon deposits 20 disposed therein. It is these carbon deposits which should be removed prior to the installation of new rings on the piston 10.

The piston groove cleaner of the instant invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 22 and includes a pair of jaw members 24 and 26 which are formed on corresponding end portions of a pair of arm members 28 and 30. The arm member 30 is substantially planar while the arm member 28 is generally U-shaped in cross-section including a pair of generally parallel legs 32 and 34 interconnected by means of a bight por- 'tion .36. From FIGURE 9 of the drawings it may be seen that the arm member 30 passes through slots 38 formed in the leg 34 of the arm member 28 and is pivotally secured to the bight portion 36 by means of a pivot fastener 40. In this manner, the jaw members 24 and 26 are mounted for movement toward and away from each other in the same plane. a

A guide strap 42 isxsecured through the legs3 2 and 34.- .The portion of the guide strap 42 which projects through the arm member 28 has -a longitudinal slot 48' formed therein defining a pair of furcations 50 and 52. The furcations '56 and. 52 include abutment members 4vand may be urged together at their free ends to enable the abutment members 54 to pass through the slots 44 and 46. s t i j A compressionspring 56 is disposed about the guide strap 42 and is disposed between the inner face of the arm member 30 and a thrust washer 58 disposed on the guide strap 42 and abutted against the confronting surface of the leg 34. a V V An elongated rack bar 59 is also secured to theinner surface of the arm'mem'ber 30 in any convenient manner such as by welding 60 and received through the slots 44 and 46. The rack bar 59 includes a plurality of teeth at one endto the arm t em-- ber 30 in any convenient manner such as by Welding g 4-3 and extends through a pair of slots 44 and 46 formed I, V The foregoingis considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the=art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and'operation shown and described, and .accordingly all suitable modificat ons and equivalents'maybe resorted to, falling within the scope t of theinvention as claimed.-

What is claimed asnew is as fol-lows: 1. A ,pistongroove cleaner comprising av pair of jaw members mounted'for movement towardland away from each other in the same plane, one of said jaw members including readily removable and replaceable insert means defining. an 'arcuate plate-like member disposed in said plane and whose concave edge portion opens toward the other jaw member and includes teeth-like scraping elements closely spaced longitudinally therealong and adapted to be snugly received in a piston ring groove, said jaw members being adaptedto receive a piston therebetween.

62 spaced longitudinally thereof and a pawl member 64' I is pivotally secured to the bight portion 36 by means of a pivotfastener 66 and is spring urged by means of com pression spring 68 into engagement with the teeth 62'.

When in the operative position illustrated in FIGURE 1, v

the pawl 64 prevents movement of the free ends of the arm members 28 and :away from each other. I The leg '34 has a longitudinally ex-tending slot 70 formed therein adjacent the bight portion 36 and an arcuate plate-like member 72 having a concave arcuate edge portion with saw teeth 74 formed thereon hasits toe portion 76 passed through thetslot 70at one end thereof 'and its'heel portion 78 positioned in the remote end of the slot 70. The toe portion 76 is received from between the legs 32 and 34'and closely overlies the bight portion 2. The combination ofclairn 1' .whereinsaid'other jaw member also includes readily removable and replaceable insert means defining a second arcuate p'late like member whose concave edge portion opens toward said one jaw member and isiadaptedto. be snugly received in said 7 piston'groove.

"ing'an adapter plate removably secured to said one jaw 36 while the heel portion 78 is seated, in the opposite end of the slot 70. It will be noticed that the heellportion end of the plate-like member oradapter plate 72 includes'an abutment surface 80 limiting penetration of the outer peripheral edge portion 82 into the slot 70. While the toe portion 7-6 engages the leg 32 and prevents the toe and of the adapter plate 72 from penetratingtoo deeply through the groove 70, the abutment surface 80 engages the leg 34 and limits penetration of the heel end of the abutment/plate 7-2 inwardly of the slot 70; The heel end of the adapter plate 72 includes a tab portion 83 which maybe gripped between'two fingers in order to withdraw the adapter plat from the slot 70. 7

A second adapter plate 84- also arcuate in con-figuration .member and whose concave edge is of an arc adapted to closely conform to'the'arc defined b'ythe innermost wall of said ring groove.

'4.'The combination of claim 1 wherein said jaw members comprise one pair of corresponding ends of a pair of arm members, said one pair of corresponding ends 7 being pivotally secured together.

5. The combination of claim ,4 including coacting means carried bythe other pair of corresponding ends of said arm members for adjustably limiting movement of Said other pair of endsof'said armmembers away from includes a plurality of projections ,86 spaced longitudia nally therealong which are received in notches 88 formed in the concave edge portion of. the jaw rnember 26. In addition, the adapter plate 84 includes three channel members 90 at points spaced longitudinally therealong which embraoingly engage the ancuate edge portion of the jaw member 2 6 at points spaced longitudinally therealong.

It is to be noted that the opposite ends of the arcuate edge of the adapter plate 72' are fireeof the teeth 74.: In

this manner, these opposite end portions 92-and94 define abutments for limiting penetration of the teeth 74in the groove 18. r a T H v i The adapter plates 72 and' '84 are removable in order that they may be removed andtreplaced by adapter plates having concave arcuate edge portions defined byidifierent length radii. In this manner, the tool 22 may be adapted to be used in connectionwith pistons of various diameters.

The saw-like teeth 74 are spaced close enough together so that the entire concave edge portion of the adapter plate 72 functions more or less as a file as opposed to one or two cutting elements spaced at considerable distanee from each other which, of course, would have a and also the inner wall of the groove 18.

tendency to gauge the carbon deposits 20 being removed each other. 7 1

6. A piston groove cleaner comprising a pair of jaw members mounted for mo'vement'towa'rd and away from each other in the same plane o'ne of said jaw members including means defining an arcuate. plate-like member disposed in said plane and, whose concave edge portion opens-toward the other jaw member and includes teethlike scraping elements closelyflspaced longitudinally therealong and adapted to be snugly received in la piston ring groove,;said jaw members being adapted to receive a piston t'herebetween, the opposite ends of said concave edge portion beingfree from scraping elements and comprising relatively smooth, abutments adapted to limit the amount the scraping elements may bite into the innermost wall of said ring groove,;said ja w members comprising one-pair of corresponding ends of a pair of arm members, said one pair offcorrespondingends being pivotally secured together, coacting means carried by the other pair of corresponding ends of said arm members for adjustably limiting mo'vementmof the other pair of endsof said arm membersuaway from each other, and means connected between said other pairof'corresponding ends of said arm members yieldingly urging said other pair of corresponding ends of said arm members away from each other.

i 7. A fpist'on groove cleaner comprising a pair of jaw members mounted for movement'toward and away from each other in the same plane, one of said jaw members posed in said plane and whose concave edge portion opens toward the other jaw member and includes scraping elements adapted to be snugly received in a piston ring groove, said jaw members being adapted to receive a piston therebetween, said other jaw member also including means defining a second arcuate plate-like member whose concave edge portion opens toward said one jaw member and is adapted to be snugly received in said piston groove, said last-mentioned plate-like member comprising an adapter plate removably secured to said other jaw member and Whose concave edge portion is of an are adapted to closely conform to the arc defined by the innermost wall of said ring groove, said other jaw member including a plurality of notches spaced longitudinally thereof, the lastmentioned concave edge port-ion including a plurality of projections and means defining channel members projecting outwardly from its convex edge portion receivable in said notches and embracingly engaging the concave marginal edge portion of said other jaw member, respectively, at points spaced longitudinally therealong.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,361,639 12/20 Stevenson 15/104.01 1,416,673 5/22 Bald-win 15/104.01 1,491,847 4/24 Creed 15/104.01 1,560,441 '1 1/25 Trosper 15/104.01 1,768,692 7/30 Kaplan 15/104.01 1,821,891 9/31 Jones 15/104.01 1,848,418 3/32 Fall 15/104.01 2,362,780 11/44 Stine 15/104.01 2,787,800 4/57 Stevens 15/104.01

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PISTON GROOVE CLEANER COMPRISING A PAIR OF JAW MEMBERS MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER IN THE SAME PLANE, ONE OF SAID JAW MEMBERS INCLUDING READILY REMOVABLE AND REPLACEABLE INSERT MEANS DEFINING AN ARCUATE PLATE-LIKE MEMBER DISPOSED IN SAID PLANE AND WHOSE CONCAVE EDGE PORTION OPENS TOWARD THE OTHER JAW MEMBER AND INCLUDES TEETH-LIKE SCRAPING ELEMENTS CLOSELY SPACED LONGITUDINALLY THEREALONG AND ADAPTED TO BE SNUGLY RECEIVED IN A PISTON RING GROOVE, SAID JAW MEMBERS BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PISTON THEREBETWEEN. 